CHARLESTON, S.C. - Austin Mapes broke a 3-3 tie with a double in the sixth and put the finishing touches on an 8-4 win with a two-run homer in the eighth as The Citadel stayed alive in the Southern Conference Tournament with a victory over UNCG on Thursday night at Riley Park.

The Bulldogs (27-29) advance to face the loser of tonight's game between Mercer and VMI in an elimination contest on Friday at 8:30 p.m. The Citadel played Mercer on Thursday morning and lost by a score of 3-2. UNCG finishes its season with a record of 23-27.

The Citadel had runners at first and third with two outs in the sixth when Mapes drove a two-base hit to left, driving home Ryan Kilgallen with the go-ahead run. Johnathan Stokes followed with a single to plate two more runs and put the Bulldogs in front 6-3.

Kevin Connell, making his second appearance of the day, limited the Spartans to only a bunt single over the seventh and eighth innings, and Mapes homered over the scoreboard in left in the bottom of the eight to break the game open. It was Mapes' seventh home run of the season.

Mapes finished with three hits as did Jacob Watcher, whose two-run double in the second had given the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead. UNCG tied it in the third with a pair of doubles by Tyler Long and Ryne Sigmon as well as an error but it could have been a lot worse.

With runners at first and second and nobody out, Bulldog starter Thomas Byelick struck out Hunter King. Kilgallen noticed Zac McAneney straying off first and fired to Stephen Windham, who applied the tag for the second out. The Citadel then concluded an unusual triple play when Windham threw to third to easily retire Tripp Shelton trying to advance.

The Spartans got right back at it offensively in the fourth, taking the lead on a double by Aaron Wright and RBI single by Eric Kalbfleisch. Zach Lavery relieved Byelick and recorded two strikeouts to limit the damage and keep the Bulldogs within 3-2.

The Citadel wasted no time tying it back up in the bottom of the fourth on two walks and a run-scoring single by William Kinney. Austin Mason took over on the mound in the fifth and struck out three in two innings of hitless relief and was credited with the win, evening his record at 2-2 on the year.

Skylar Hunter finished in the ninth and allowed no hits and one unearned run.